Many people have heard the term ‘blood diamond’ or ‘conflict diamond’. Although these terms have been around for many years, they have only recently been brought into the mainstream – primarily through director Edward Zwick’s 2006 film ‘Blood Diamond’, which starred Leonardo di Caprio, and was one of the best regarded films of that year. This article will provide you with a better understanding of what blood diamonds are, and how the diamond industry goes about preventing them from arriving in the jewelry stores where you go to purchase a present for a loved one.

What are Blood Diamonds?

Diamonds are beautiful and sought-after gemstones all across the world. Many diamonds are mined in Africa, and some are mined in its war zones. It is diamonds which are mined in these war zones than can turn into blood diamonds – where they become symbols of greed and disturbing violence. A blood diamond could be described as ‘A diamond which has been mined in a war zone, then sold in order to finance the conflict’. This often means that the diamonds are mined by poverty-stricken workers, then taken off them and sold to finance rebel forces, an insurgency or a warlord’s activity – essentially any practice which is conflict in nature to the well-being of the country. The diamonds can often be sold or traded for weapons, meaning the war is prolonged and the violence escalated. Many of the diamond-mine workers are innocent victims who live in permanent fear of torture, rape or dismemberment, from their bosses and the controlling rebel forces.

Time Line of the Blood Diamond

1997: The United Nations (UN) makes its first mention of illegal diamond trade in the context of funding a war, when it places sanctions on Angola, forbidding other countries buying diamonds from them. It is believed that 20% of the country’s diamond production was being sold for illegal purposes, with around three quarters of these purposes being conflict in nature.

1999: A coup overthrows the government of the Ivory Coast, starting a civil war. The Ivory Coast then becomes a route for exporting diamonds from Liberia and Sierra Leone.

2000: In the middle of the Liberian Civil War (1998-2001) the UN accuses Liberian president Charles G. Taylor of supporting insurgency in Sierra Leone by trading weapons and military training in exchange for diamonds.

2000: The Republic of Congo begins exporting large quantities of diamonds – despite having no official diamond mining industry. Serious questions arise as to the source of these diamonds – which the Republic of Congo is unable and unwilling to answer.

May 2000: With the problem of conflict diamonds getting bigger and bigger, the diamond industry takes its first steps to counteracting the illegal trade. The diamond producing countries of southern Africa meet in Kimberley, South Africa, to discuss putting a process in place which would stop conflict diamond trade and allow diamond buyers reassurance that their purchase has not contributed to war.

July 2000: The World Diamond Congress demands an international certification scheme, which would strengthen the diamond industry’s powers regarding the importation and exportation of diamonds, and allow them to block sales of conflict diamonds, and criminally charge individuals caught trafficking them.

March 2002: After many months of negotiation, the diamond producers, organizations and governments finally agree on a process – and the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is born. The KPCS member countries – nearly 70 in total – agree to only trade diamonds with other member countries, to certify that diamonds entering their countries are conflict-free, and to pass their own national laws to prohibit the trade of blood diamonds.

Seven Years On – Has It Worked?

In many ways the KPCS has been a success. Only diamonds that can be traced all the way back to their original mine can be labeled conflict-free. As a result, members of the public can be assured that the diamond they are purchasing is not a blood diamond. This ‘Certificate of Origin’ program means buyers can ask for actual certification when making their purchase. Amnesty International (AI) has been instrumental in educating the public about blood diamonds, and has kept pressure on governments and the diamond industry to punish those who are found guilty of trying to by-pass the KPCS. Though the Kimberley Process Certification Scheme is working well, there are still loopholes. The main problem is that any country can become a member, regardless of whether they meet required standards. This means that the process is heavily reliant on the governments of member countries to implement and enforce the laws, and some member countries have weak or corrupt governments which are still letting conflict diamonds through the system. Kimberley Process fraud has been uncovered in Brazil and Venezuela. In some countries it is the diamond industry itself which is corrupt. Some members of the industry have continued to trade in conflict diamonds, with their colleagues turning a blind eye to the illegal activities.

The Future of the Blood Diamond

The battle against blood diamonds continues. The main challenge is to keep governments active in their policing of illegal diamond trading, and taking heavy action against corrupt officials and diamond industry members. Slowly, but surely, the tide is turning. Conflict diamonds now account for only a small percentage of diamond sales worldwide. By reducing the purchase of blood diamonds, income sources are being cut off for rebel forces. Less money for them means less weapons, training, and ultimately less war. By achieving peace in diamond-producing areas, economical development can begin. People can live a better standard of life in these countries, no longer in fear for their lives and those of their families. More legitimate diamond mines will also be established, and conditions and money for workers should improve. The battle against the blood diamond is one that should never be given up on. “Diamonds are forever…but lives are not. We must spare people the ordeal of war, mutilations and death for the sake of conflict diamonds.” Martin Chungong Ayafor, Chairman of the Sierra Leone Panel of Experts. As time goes on the general public will become more educated on where and how to buy jewelry. Hopefully conflict diamonds will become a thing of the past. After all, buying an engagement ring can be stressful enough without worrying about where the diamond had come from.

About the Author

Mike Stevens is a 30 year veteran in the jewelry business. Mike has done work for all major jewelry chains in the united States. He is a master level jeweler with retail experience which he uses to educate people on jewelry buying. Mike owns Glitter-Secrets.com and dedicates his time to educate people on jewelry buying. Mike Stevens is also the author of Jewelry Buying Secrets.